ROUND THE BRITISH AND IRISH COASTS- 53 



manners of the people are charming ; and the sea fishing is 

 generally excellent. 



As we travel eastward along the south coast the sport cer- 

 tainly does not improve. Off Lyme Regis there is much the 

 same sea fishing as at Seaton. At Bridport is a harbour where 

 a little bass fishing can be done from the pierhead. There is 

 some pollacking to be had, and flat fish, for the bottom is 

 sandy. Further out is very fair whiting fishing. It is worth 

 knowing that whiting pout on this part of the coast are called 

 blinns or blains, 



The watering-place of Weymouth possesses an excellent 

 harbour, and the bay is extended by the magnificent Portland 

 breakwater, from which a good deal of fishing is done. 

 Congers and whiting pout are the principal fish taken from the 

 breakwater, and there is always a chance of a bass from the 

 pierhead, at the mouth of the harbour. Large mullet and 

 bass are caught from the bridge over the Fleet, the tidal 

 backwater which connects Abbotsbury and Portland Bay. In 

 the harbour itself there are plenty of smelts and small flat fish ; 

 and a few bass, small pollack and grey mullet are caught at 

 times from the little weir. The shallow lagoons at the back of 

 the weir are unmercifully netted. 



Some miles out the usual sea fish are caught. Mackerel 

 fishing begins in May. The best of the line fishing is during 

 the summer months and early autumn ; boats sometimes catch 

 twelve or eighteen dozen fish. Pollack are medium-sized and 

 plentiful between Ratcliffe Head and Meup Rock, east of 

 Lulworth. This place has often been strongly recommended ; 

 but, so far as my experience goes, it is uncertain, and, as I 

 have said, if anybody wants really good fishing he should go 

 further west. 



To the eastward of Weymouth, between Swanage and St. 

 Albans Head, is very fair pollack fishing. Poole Harbour is 



